Why is rotavirus so contagious?

Rotavirus is so contagious because of several factors that contribute to its efficient spread and infection. Below are the main reasons.

Only a small number of virus particles are sufficient to cause an infection. This makes the virus highly contagious, because an infected person excretes large amounts of virus in their feces. Rotavirus spreads mainly via the fecal-oral route. This means that the virus can be transmitted from the feces of an infected person to the mouth of another through contaminated food, water, hands, or surfaces.

The rotavirus can survive for a long time on surfaces, hands and objects, which increases the chance of spread. It can remain active for hours to days depending on conditions. People, especially children, can spread rotavirus without showing symptoms. This makes it harder to control the spread because people don't always know they are infected and are passing on the virus.

The virus spreads quickly in environments where many children gather, such as daycare centers and schools. Young children are susceptible to infections and can easily pass the virus to each other. Infected individuals, especially children, may shed the virus for several days to weeks, even after recovery. This extends the period in which they can infect others.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/rotavirus/about/index.html

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-07-15 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024